Anyone will tell you that I go a little nuts around the Holidays. I know what you’re thinking: the Christmas gift panic, general anxiety, overwhelm with school, fear of stocking coal, and other severe clinical Holiday disorders.

But nay. Not that kind of nuts.

I really get into Christmas. (And Thanksgiving. [And Halloween.])

It didn’t really occur to me until this year living with my roommates that some people just don’t function at the high degree of Holiday enthusiasm as I do. And that is a-okay. For most, Christmas carols can be annoying as all get-out, a Christmas party is a synonym for bloating, and in December, all the little elves seem to be stealing money from your wallet instead of replacing it.

These things do not resonate with me. I have Vince Guaraldi on repeat, bought $1 stockings at Goodwill for our household, and have been making giant 3-d paper snowflakes out of red and green paper.

Granted, I am conscious of the new paradigm of Consumer Christmas (note: $1 Goodwill stockings). My family and I prioritize on spending time together rather than spending a lot of money on one another. Correspondingly, I celebrate Christmas through food – making and sharing it with others, and emphasizing ingredients like pumpkin, ginger, peppermint, chocolate, and chai.

This time of year makes me crave warm, spicy things (and this time of month makes me crave chocolate things. Badly.) Of course, this recipe was the only thing on my mind yesterday at the grocery store.

I’ve also been on the hunt for the perfect gingerbread smoothie recipe – thick, chewable, nourishing, sweet, and spicy. The Healthy Foodie’s recipe seemed to fit the bill. My interpretation probably would have been better with the white bean addition (genius!), but I’m (moderately) happy with my finished product. (Moderately) happy enough to share with you!

Drain your steaming pot, remove steamer, replace vegetables and add in the contents of your saucepan. Add the bouillon cube, pumpkin, red curry paste and water and bring up to a boil. Add the remaining 1 tsp curry powder, 1 tsp turmeric, 1/2 tsp coriander, 1/4 tsp black pepper and 1/2 tsp cinnamon. Cover the pot (leaving the lid ajar), and turn heat down to simmer and cook for about 10 to 15 minutes. Add the chickpeas and cook 3 minutes, then add the coconut milk and cook 2 minutes. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper as desired.

Serve with fresh lemon wedges to squeeze on top, garnished with fresh parsley or cilantro, if desired. (I made mine reaallly spicy with red pepper flakes and garnished with sprouts, of course)

– – –

Chocolate Gingerbread Smoothie

(Makes 1 serving)

•1 frozen banana

•1 – 1 and 1/2 cups unsweetened vanilla almond milk

•1 scoop chocolate, sugar-free vegan protein powder

•1/2 tsp maple agave

•1/2 tsp fresh, grated ginger

•1/4 tsp vanilla extract

•1 tsp cinnamon

•1/4 tsp allspice

•1/4 tsp cloves

•1 tbsp slivered almonds, if desired (for crunch)

•1 tbsp flaxseed meal, if desired

•Gingersnap cookie or flaked cereal, for garnish

Mix all ingredients together with a blender. Top with a sprinkle of cinnamon. Serve with crumbled gingersnap or flaked cereal on top, for garnish.

– – –

These two recipes, although severely altered, have satisfied my Christmas taste buds. Last evening was a different story. I was determined to make something chocolate with my newly-purchased cocoa powder, but without applesauce, coconut oil, or vegan margarine, I was pretty much at a loss. I ended up using leftover lightly-salted rice cakes, crumbling them up, and making a banana-cocoa-peppermint-everything concoction that was then mixed in. Laid out on a baking pan and left in the freezer for a couple hours, they were pretty deerrrn good. Like chocolate peppermint rice krispie treats. I used way too much peppermint extract, but overall, not a disaster. Maybe I will try them again and formulate a recipe.

And now, yoga. My eyes need a break from this computer screen. And the sun just came shining into my windows!

After meditation this morning, I was hungry for breakfast. I spilled all of my almond milk yesterday, so a protein shake was out of the question. My second favorite breakfast dish, a hearty bowl of steel-cut oats, was the next best thing. Naturally, I hopped onto FoodGawker to forage for a new oatmeal recipe to try.

It’s clear that pumpkin oatmeal is the trend lately. I’ve had about twenty bowls of it so far this fall. And while it is delicious, warming, and seasonal – I’m getting sick of it!

In a small pot, bring the water and salt to a boil over high heat. Add in the steel-cut oats, lower the heat to simmer, cover and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. (I found I had to add in more water than the original recipe suggested occasionally to keep the oats cooking/prevent the bottom from scorching). After about 15 minutes, add the zucchini, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger.

Stir well, then cover again and cook for another 5-10 minutes (if oats are dry, add a bit more liquid). Remove from heat, stir in the almond butter, nuts, raisins, stevia, and a just a little bit of maple agave (save some for serving).

Prepare yourself, and serve with a few more nuts, raisins, and maple agave on top.

This is, without a doubt, the most delicious oatmeal I have ever eaten. The steel-cut oats and almonds add a soft crunch, mimicking the texture of baked zucchini bread. The sweetness of the raisins and maple agave really take this to another level. I am dreaming of my next adventure with this when I have almond milk, walnuts, and crystallized ginger. . .

I think I gobbled this down in two minutes flat.

If you want a unique, sweet, and seriously satisfying breakfast that’s sugar-free – this has gotta be it.

This recipe is also a great alternative to heavy starches and breads in the morning that can make you feel weighed down. Oats are a great replacement, and serve as a backbone for fun experiments. I’m itching to try banana bread oatmeal after eating this. My mind is full of enticing possibilities. . .

(P.S.: I definitely felt more centered this morning while cooking. For a day about to be full of rock climbing, it was nice to spend a gentle morning in the kitchen beforehand. I admit – it was hard to photograph this before diving right in, but it sure helped me appreciate it that much more.)